Meaning & use
incorruptibility
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Meaning
noununcountable
The quality of being impossible to bribe, corrupt, or morally compromise.
Grammar: Used as an uncountable noun; it does not take 'a' or a plural form.
Patterns
- incorruptibility of someone
- famous for incorruptibility
- maintain incorruptibility
The judge's incorruptibility was known throughout the country.
Voters demanded incorruptibility from their elected officials.
Her incorruptibility made her a trusted leader.
Common combinations
- incorruptibility of a judge
- The incorruptibility of the judge was never questioned.
- famous for incorruptibility
- The agency was famous for its incorruptibility.
- maintain incorruptibility
- It is hard to maintain incorruptibility in a corrupt system.
- reputation for incorruptibility
- The police force had a reputation for incorruptibility.
Synonyms and how they differ
- honesty
- A broader term for truthfulness; incorruptibility specifically emphasizes resistance to bribery.
- integrity
- Focuses on strong moral principles; incorruptibility is more about not being influenced by money or power.
- probity
- A formal word for complete honesty; incorruptibility is narrower and often used about officials.
Opposites
Word family
- incorrupt adjective
- Not willing to act dishonestly; free from corruption.
- incorruptible adjective
- Incapable of being bribed or corrupted.
- incorruptibly adverb
- In a manner that cannot be corrupted (rare).
Commonly confused: incorruptibility or incorruptible?
incorruptibility vs incorruptible
The adjective 'incorruptible' describes a person or thing; 'incorruptibility' is the noun for the quality. Do not use the adjective where a noun is needed.
Practice
Which sentence uses 'incorruptibility' correctly?
Choose one answer.
'Incorruptibility' is the noun for the quality, so it fits after 'his'. Option 1 uses the adjective 'incorruptible', option 2 uses the adjective 'incorrupt', and option 3 uses the adverb 'incorruptibly'.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “incorruptibility”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.